Mix-ins Opens in East Dedham

In the midst of the ongoing facelift efforts taking place at East Dedham’s Della Park Plaza, a new business has taken up residency in the husk of the old Dunk's. Walking through the entrance, after taking notice of the original hot-pink Dunkin' Donuts 'D' door handle, you'll be greeted "Welcome to Mix-Ins, what's your fixing?"

Mix-Ins is a tad different in their approach when compared with some of Dedham's staple ice cream spots. An almost Subway or Chipotle-esque setup makes customers feel like a part of the process as they watch their snacks’ creation. On the wall above the assembly line stands over thirty dispensers of different toppings, or 'fix-ins' as they're called, along with a freezer of fifteen different homemade ice cream offerings sat front and center. In addition, they also offer soft-serve, coffee, and smoothies and shakes. 

Using the many, many toppings on display- customers can implant their ice cream of choice with all sorts of additional snacks. Everything from Oreo Crumbs to Nerds are available for your enjoyment, creating nearly endless possibilities for combinations. 

While Mix-In's might not have the most space, they certainly pack in a lot of options for customers to choose from. The renovations give what was previously a poorly lit and cramped Dunkin’ Donuts a second chance at life. It is especially refreshing to see new businesses like this springing up in Della Park Plaza, which has seemed rather barren for a long time. An ongoing closure of East Dedham Pizzeria likewise drained a lot of the remaining liveliness from the plaza, but I believe the arrival of Mix-Ins could be an omen of good things to come for the area. 

Now, to the real meat of this story, the ice cream. On my first trip, I ordered their 'Dedham Town Favorite' Smores concoction, one of Mix-In's house recipes. A few days later, I came back and ordered a cup of Cake Batter topped with Oreos and Reese's. Their service was quite friendly, and the ice cream tasted great, although I did feel as though the time I waited and money I paid might’ve been a little excessive. 

Obviously, a business within their first couple days of operating will be subject to any number of changes or improvements as time passes. I have little doubt that once the employees have gotten used to the system, waiting will be reduced and they’ll get more comfortable with taking and making orders. These hurdles, while important to highlight, aren’t entirely relevant to evaluating the business itself. 

What is far more important to evaluate with a business like this is their pricing. I believe that their ice cream itself is reasonably priced, however the issue lies within their gimmick of the “Fix-Ins” which each cost nearly the same as a scoop of ice cream. While I don't wish to immediately call parallels to a competitor, Ron’s in Dedham Square charges around half that for each topping. Pricing is subjective, so maybe paying $2.50 for a couple of Frosted Flakes sounds fine to some, but it isn’t like they’re that generous with the toppings to justify the cost either. 

It’s important to clarify that I don’t wish to portray the owners of Mix-Ins as greedy when I mention their pricing in this way. I really do like their ice cream, and I think the concept of the place is creative. These are small business owners, taking a risky step. They’re allowed to do whatever they want- who am I to say if it’s too much or if they’re too stingy- I just think it’d make sense to charge a little less and be a little more generous with the thing the entire business is marketed and based around. 

Mix-In’s is a solid choice for anybody in search of a sweet-treat, and a welcome addition to the town of Dedham. Their operation from noon ‘till ten at night means that it could even be a bit of a late night snack. Just don’t get carried away with your toppings- lest you leave with a full stomach and an emptied wallet!